A Tiger in the Woods

I really think that probably everybody is tired of Tiger and his travails.  Of course, everyone knew something was afoot when it was reported that he had run into a fireplug and then a tree right outside his gate, together with something about windows being smashed with golf clubs.  Apparently, his wife said she broke the window to get him out of the car.  Maybe she wanted  him out of the car so she could beat him to death, but that is the sheerest speculation.

At first, I felt sorry for the guy; and in a way, I still do.  I heard Bryant Gumbel say that it was the worst of luck, because nothing, nothing happens in December.  He cited the case of the wandering South Carolina Governor whose sachet to South America was discovered and announced and discussed for only a day, because Michael Jackson died the next day and soon the chatter in Michael's case turned to murder, causing the nation to forget the traveling amorous governor!  Not so in Tiger's case;  he has been and probably will remain in the hot spotlight until after the first of the year. 

Tiger Woods has been a phenomenon almost since the first day he played in the pros.  He not only has won almost every championship there is in golf, he has won many of them several times.  He was a nice looking young man, with an apparently great personality - a man who took his sport very seriously but didn't seem to take himself too seriously.  "Clean cut," your name is Tiger, or at least was.  And so, now, Gillette is having second thoughts as are a number of other big names who together have paid Tiger up to about $100 million a year to endorse their products.  Nike seems to be holding on, but they've got a three year inventory of shoes and other stuff with his name on it.

Seriously, America loves its athletes; their salaries and perks tell you so.  And maybe their excessive earnings contribute to their feeling of invincibility.  Most of you know that I am no sports fan, but it doesn't make any difference what these professional athletes do, they don't seem to suffer many long-term consequences.  Whether you raise and fight killer dogs, fight in restaurants and bars, are caught with dope and narcotics, nothing much ever happens.  I don't know that I can think of anything much more despicable than training and fighting dogs to the death, but Michael Vick hadn't been out of prison fifteen minutes before some team was after him to play, offering him millions.  And I would almost guarantee that, should he start getting three or more touch downs a game, nobody would remember what a real jerk he is. I don't keep up with professional athletes, but it seemed to me that the Cincinnati news,  before the Bengals started winning, was full of rough-neck football players being arrested for this crime and that; and apparently, only a jail sentence (and few of those were meted out) kept any of them from playing football.

Some say Tiger is such a phenomenal golfter that none of this will matter in six months.  And, heaven knows, he is an unequaled golfer.  But maybe, just maybe the day has arrived when conduct and character will have a bearing on the rewards we bestowe on our stars.  I hope so!